With global accolades for acting, filmmaking and singing, Neil Sandilands is the prime example of what it means to make the best of an opportunity, homing in on the multifaceted skills he was born with.

Having appeared in less than a handful of local TV shows in the 1990s, the actor from a mining town on Gauteng's West Rand crept into the hearts of South African viewers with his breakout role as Bart Kruger in 7de Laan in 2000.

Fast forward 22 years and Sandilands has cemented his place in the entertainment industry with roles in award-winning international series and local soapies, as a filmmaker and as a musician.

In an interview with Channel24 during a recent trip to South Africa, Sandilands reveals why his role in the local series Desert Rose was serendipitous, how he juggles his international commitments while availing himself for productions in his home country, and how he strives to make every breath count.

Click 'read more' for the full interview.